York police enforce 'buckle up, no excuses'

YORK, Maine — The York Police Department is among those agencies stepping up enforcement of the state's seat belt law over the holiday weekend in the “buckle up, no excuses” campaign, according to a released statement from Maine Highway Safety Director Lauren Stewart.

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By Susan Morse

seacoastonline.com

By Susan Morse

Posted May. 22, 2014 at 2:19 PM
Updated May 22, 2014 at 2:23 PM

By Susan Morse

Posted May. 22, 2014 at 2:19 PM
Updated May 22, 2014 at 2:23 PM

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YORK, Maine — The York Police Department is among those agencies stepping up enforcement of the state's seat belt law over the holiday weekend in the “buckle up, no excuses” campaign, according to a released statement from Maine Highway Safety Director Lauren Stewart.

The campaign, which began Monday, coincides with a national effort that will continue until June 1, she said.

Half of last year's fatal crashes in Maine involved drivers not buckling up, she said.

Two people were killed in traffic crashes during the Memorial Day weekend last year in Maine, and three people died during the 2012 holiday weekend, according to the information released by the Maine Department of Public Safety.

“Although most of the state's drivers use their seat belts, there is a minority who haven't gotten the message,” Stewart said in a released statement. “The two-week 'buckle up – no excuses' campaign will target those violators.”

In addition to the seat belt effort, State Police plan over 40 different enforcement activities through the Memorial Day weekend, according to Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

Chief of the State Police, Colonel Robert Williams, said troopers will be looking for drunk and distracted drivers, aggressive driving, in addition to the seat belt violations, according to McCausland. In addition, Williams said the State Police plane will be flying over the state's major highways looking for violators from the air.

“Memorial Day sets the tone for the summer driving season and our goal is to make it a safe one,” Williams said in a released statement.